Theme-based learning is widely adopted in preschools and strongly supported by researches on the brain and how humans learn and here's why...

Here is an activity I forgot to write about. My students were learning how to write linear equations when given two ordered pairs. I wanted to help them make the connection between the algorithm and

UPDATE: Hello everyone! I have been at a new school with nearly 3x the students! Eek! Interactive notebooks haven't been feasible here, so I haven't been keeping up with them. I do have some of the things I've use available for free (see the links below) and I'm working on uploading more! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Music-Interactive-Notebook-Pages-Rhythms-475383 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Music-Interactive-Notebook-Pages-Dynamics-Tempos-Articulations-424104 I know that a few of you are on the "interactive notebook" journey with me. I haven't been "journey-ing" very well in October, because, well, Halloween songs and activities are my absolute favorite and my students and have been busy! However, I'm hoping to get these updates into my students' notebooks ASAP. Check them out! This easy foldable can be used for logging "new rhythms". The rhythm is drawn in the middle. The flaps read: "real name", "word with same number of sounds", "number of sounds", "number of beats". You can see below how I answered these for "tika-tika". Here's another rhythm foldable - this one is cross-curricular. Check-out how the kiddos have to identify the rhythm and then create a bar-graph: Isn't it convenient that the lines on the music staff equal the number of fingers on the human hand? :) I can't wait to add this little picture in as we go over absolute pitch: The foldables are for basic listening vocabulary words. I'm thinking about introducing one type (say "tempo") per lesson, paired with interesting listening examples (I love Eric Chapelle's "A Tale of Two Cities" for loud vs. quiet - Half the class is the "loud city" and they stomp around the room with big movements, the other half is the "quiet city" and they tip-toe around with small movements - lots of fun for any age). After we listen or move to some of the terms, the students can complete their notebook pages (see below). The students can find the answers on various posters, anchor charts, etc around the room. Now, anytime we listen to a piece, the students can uses these pages as a reference. I think this will be very engaging because they'll get to flip into their own work, check out pictures, and read what they wrote as the definition. I'm literally slapping myself for not thinking of these pages sooner. My 4th graders are going to an orchestral concert on Thursday, so I've been very busy with them reviewing the instruments of the orchestra. We used a few charts in our notebooks already to log in notes about each instrument, but, had I had these printables glued in for them to use, I think their work would have been much better organized (and the pictures can't hurt either). I'll definitely be using these with my 3rd and 5th graders. I'd suggest teaching one family per lesson (I love to use SFS Kids when teaching the instruments). Students can take notes under each flap and add extras (such as other family members, playing techniques, etc) around the edges of the foldable. Supplement their note-taking with discussions and video-clips from Youtube. Looking for more instruments of the orchestra activities? Check out these FREEBIES from my TPT store: Brass Family Matching Game Woodwind Family Matching Game Percussion Family Matching Game String Family Matching Game Turkey Instrument Family Game How are your notebooks going?

If you're an incoming college freshman, read this post about 17 things I regret not bringing to college! Learn from my mistakes!

How many times have you hung up the phone after a chat with a new prospective client and then immediately slapped your forehead and said "I can't believe I forgot to ask ______!".

Hello Everyone! I almost forgot to post one other thing. I have had a ton of questions and e-mails about my story retelling rope that I po...

There were definitely things I would have done (and packed) differently for my Inca Trail hike. To help other gals avoid these same packing woes, I have come up with a list of 5 essentials that can't be forgotten.

Dreams Come True When You Vote With Love!The 33rd Annual Sanrio Character Ranking Contest has begun! 100 Sanrio characters are "in it to win it" as they bid for your vote.See who you could vote fo...

Hello Everyone! I almost forgot to post one other thing. I have had a ton of questions and e-mails about my story retelling rope that I posted on last year.You can read about that here! :) I have been doing retelling ropes for a long time. Does anybody remember "Project Read?" The author of that amazing curriculum was my inspiration for this way of teaching kids about the parts of a story and extending that into retelling. "Retelling" is an important component of discriminating comprehension in our beginning readers. Making it hands on is important to me! Kids almost always cement learning better when they can incorporate as many senses as possible. I took some time to redo my retelling rope icons, my retelling poem, made some little posters about the parts of a story, and redid my anchor chart. Here are some pics of what this little unit includes. Here are some pics of finished products, anchor chart and student retelling rope. For your free mini unit on retelling grab the rope and click here! I hope this helps with your lessons on retelling!! Hold on and have fun!! Joyfully! Nancy

I have had a love-hate relationship with homework throughout the years. I've done weekly homework, nightly homework (which I often forgot to send), just reading, the list goes on and on. Last year I was forced to reformulate my homework yet again because our county revised their regulation. The new rule stated that third graders

Luckily there are two things you can do to help your curved seams sit just right...clipping & notching!